History

The area now known as Claymore was originally home to the Tharawal people. British settlers began moving into the area in the early 1800s, establishing farms and orchards in the area. By the 1970s, the expanding Sydney was large enough for developers to look at the area around Campbelltown. The Housing Commission of New South Wales undertook a large public housing development in the Claymore area. Originally the suburb was to be called Badgally after a local homestead but the council backed off over concerns that the "Bad" part of the name could give the area a bad name. They chose Claymore after another local property although that was also contentious since the name had very little history in the area. The first residents moved in in 1978.

Demographics

According to the 2006 census, Claymore had a population of 3294 people, mostly young people with low incomes. The average age is 20, compared to the national average of 37, with 40% of the population aged 14 or under. The median income is just $237 per week, almost half the national average ($466). Most people are Australian-born and speak English although there is a substantial Samoan community with 12.2% speaking the Samoan language. Most houses are semi-detached or townhouses. Virtually all houses are being rented (86%) and 94% of those are rented from the New South Wales Department of Housing.